Glutathione

Glutathione (GSH, reduced glutathione)

⚠️ Research-grade products are for laboratory research only; pharmaceutical-grade glutathione is a prescription drug, and research-grade powder must not be injected directly into the human body.

Basic Information

– Reduced GSH CAS: 70-18-8

– Oxidized GSSG CAS: 27025-41-8

– Synonyms: γ-L-Glutamyl-L-cysteinylglycine, GSH

– Type: Tripeptide (Glu-Cys-Gly)

– Molecular Formula: \(\boldsymbol{C_{10}H_{17}N_{3}O_{6}S}\)

– Molecular weight: **307.33 Da**

– Appearance: White crystalline powder

– Solubility: Easily soluble in water; aqueous solutions are unstable and oxidize very readily to form GSSG

Key Point: The thiol group (-SH) is highly susceptible to oxidation and is rapidly inactivated upon exposure to oxygen, high temperatures, or high pH

Mechanism of Action

Glutathione is the body’s key endogenous antioxidant tripeptide:

1. The sulfhydryl group (-SH) traps free radicals, scavenges ROS, and provides antioxidant and detoxifying effects

2. Maintains intracellular redox homeostasis, protecting cell membranes, DNA, and enzymes from oxidative damage

3. Participates in Phase II detoxification in the liver (binding toxins for excretion)

4. Inhibits tyrosinase activity; used in research on melanin regulation

5. The dynamic equilibrium between reduced GSH and oxidized GSSG serves as a cellular redox indicator

## Research Areas

– Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and liver injury protection models

– Cell-based experiments on skin melanin metabolism and antioxidant effects

– Animal studies on antioxidants and aging

– Cell culture medium additives

Resuspension & Storage (Important: GSH is highly unstable)

1. Solvent: Low-temperature sterile water / AA acetic acid solution (a weakly acidic environment slows oxidation)

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> ❌ Long-term storage in BAC (bacteriostatic) water is not recommended, as the pH will accelerate oxidation

2. Example: 100 mg GSH + 1 mL sterile water → 100 mg/mL

3. Dry powder: Store at -20°C in a sealed, light-protected, dry container, isolated from air

4. After reconstitution: Best used immediately after preparation; if aliquoted, store at -20°C and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles; aqueous solutions at room temperature oxidize and lose activity significantly within a few hours

5. Handling: Maintain low temperatures throughout the process and minimize exposure to air

Compliance Notice

1. Research-grade reduced glutathione is intended solely for in vitro cell and animal experiments; injection into humans is prohibited